Fire Engines Photos

Ifa w-50, was the standard medium duty truck in the german democratic republic gdr (former "east germany")and widley used also with the vol.+prof.fire brigades, there were only a few extra heavy tatra trucks supplied from the czech republic, mainly for airports as crt or to protect large chemical industrial estates and refineries...the ifa was a bit low in power, only 125hp, like most easter types compared with their western counterparts, some are still in good use with eastern brigade, despite the fact the production ceased in 1990

Added by Andreas Hasselmann on 08 February 2009.

The complete designation of this one is TLF 16 GMK wich stands for Tanklöschfahrzeug (watertender) with 1600 liter per minute pump performance and an "Ganzmetallkoffer" structure wich is completely made of steel.
The volume of the tanks are 2200l water and 500l foam and not 2500l and 200l.

Added by Andreas Zießler on 22 February 2009.

Andreas and Andreas - thanks for this very interesting Fire Truck; and the insight into the way the GDR(East Germany) managed Fire Protection.

I love the Designator "TLF 16 GMK" explanation, with the Umlaut "o". After twisting up the tongue around that one; I don't think any of us are complaining much any more about our local fire Apparatus Designators. "Watertender" or "Tanker" is just fine... !!

The capacities are roughly:

2200 litre Water Tank = 484 Imp.Gallons; 581 US Gallons.
500 litre Foam = 110 Imp. Gallons; 132 US Gallons.
1600 lpm Pump = 352 Imp gpm; 423 US gpm

Great photo.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 23 February 2009.

The designation GMK was to distinguish this series fron the many earlier IFA W50 fire trucks which had steel crew cabs but wooden rear bodywork.

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 June 2013.

A few of these were exported outside Easter Bloc countries, notably to Cuba.

Cuba had a wide variety of fire trucks, mainly a lot of Russian units but also including German, French, Italian and a few French examples.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 September 2019.

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